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It was the week the Conservative Party went to war with business – and itself. Boris Johnson’s four-letter comment to European diplomats that business would have to take a back seat in Brexit negotiations sparked a bitter backlash.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt made matters worse by suggesting it was “completely inappropriate” for companies such as Airbus and BMW to intervene. Both had broken cover to suggest that a lack of clarity around the UK’s exit from the EU would result in them freezing investment in Britain.

It fell to Theresa May and Business Secretary Greg Clark to reassure bosses that the Government is listening to them. But ministers still have fences to mend. From the handling of...